JUDICIARY Latest Features

The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, HW Agnes Alum, has urged Chief Magistrates to lead by example, uphold judicial standards, strengthen supervision and prioritise the timely disposal of cases as part of efforts to improve justice delivery across the country.

She made the call during her first meeting with Chief Magistrates since her appointment in June 2026. The meeting, held at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala, reviewed performance and operational challenges across Magistrates’ Courts and set out key actions to strengthen case management, reduce cases aged over five years, strengthen staff supervision, address staffing and infrastructure gaps, improve the use of ECCMIS, uphold judicial standards and promote the wellbeing of Judicial Officers and staff.

The meeting’s key message was that Chief Magistrates had to translate policy and performance expectations into action at their respective stations. HW Alum described them as the “shield in the field” and the face of the Judiciary, urging them to demonstrate integrity, diligence, discipline and respect in the execution of their duties.

The Chief Registrar directed Chief Magistrates to prioritise cases that were more than five years old and report, in the next quarter, on the measures taken to address the backlog. She also urged them to submit accurate case statistics to support requests for additional Magistrates and to review workloads regularly to identify stations requiring temporary support from Magistrates or other Judicial Officers.

Chief Magistrates were further directed to strengthen supervision of Judicial and non-Judicial staff, report officers who failed to report for duty and discontinue the use of volunteers beyond their authorised periods. Interns were also required to leave court upon completion of their tenure.

HW Alum reminded the officers to observe the timelines for submitting monthly returns, which were due by the fifth day of every month. She urged them to benchmark case management and archiving practices against those of model courts, including Uganda Road, Arua, Bugiri and Fort Portal.

On judicial standards, the Chief Registrar cautioned Chief Magistrates against signing consent orders without confirming that the parties were present or duly represented. She also urged Judicial Officers to take full responsibility for judgments and rulings they signed and to ensure that pending decisions were prepared and delivered before transfer, where practicable.

She emphasised the need to follow the law and relevant practice directions in plea-taking, plea bargaining and execution proceedings and cautioned against rushing plea-taking or pressuring accused persons to plead guilty merely to conclude cases quickly.

“When you rush the plea-taking process, you risk rushing justice and, in the end, burying it,” she said.

Chief Magistrates were also urged to comply with the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, 2026, and the Practice Directions on Transfer and Management of Case Files, 2026. Where hearings had already commenced, officers were encouraged to complete the cases before transfer, where practicable, and to ensure the proper handover of files, seals and other Government property.

On the use of technology, the Chief Registrar directed Judicial Officers to ensure that documents admitted or signed on the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) were processed promptly. She cautioned against granting support staff access beyond their mandate and urged officers to exercise discretion carefully when handling bail applications through the system.

Principal IT Officer, Mr David Sunday Kikabi, said the procurement of computers and laptops had been finalised and was at the evaluation stage, with delivery expected by the end of October 2026. He said ECCMIS was under review and would be rolled out to four additional High Court Circuits, with Mpigi and Mbale scheduled for the second quarter and Hoima and Lira for the third quarter.

Management also said vehicles, including those required at Mayuge, were planned for procurement in the coming quarter, subject to the availability of funds. It noted, however, that budgetary constraints, including those arising from election petitions, continued to affect operations.

The Chief Magistrates raised challenges including inadequate numbers of Magistrates and support staff, shortages of interpreters, poor infrastructure, limited fuel allocations, outdated computers, ECCMIS difficulties, absenteeism, cyberbullying and inadequate funding for special backlog sessions.

In response, the Chief Registrar directed that all training programmes involving Judiciary staff be communicated to and authorised by Headquarters. She also urged development partners to inform Headquarters directly about such programmes.

She said requests for additional Magistrates, interpreters and support staff would be assessed on the basis of the caseload and existing staffing levels at individual stations.

On infrastructure, Chief Magistrates were encouraged to use alternative spaces as they await the expansion of court facilities.

The meeting also addressed staff conduct and wellbeing. HW Alum urged Chief Magistrates to respect support staff and ensure that their duties remained within their terms of employment.

“Mutual respect, and engaging staff only within their terms of employment, should be the baseline. Do not turn drivers, clerks and secretaries into your personal assistants,” she said.

While encouraging officers to prioritise self-care, family time and professional counselling where necessary, the Chief Registrar emphasised the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal wellbeing.

“Today I am here to preach self-care, self-love and time for family,” she said.

Commissioner for Human Resource Management, Ms Apophia Tuwiine, urged Chief Magistrates to identify multilingual interpreters in their areas of operation, report staff who failed to report for duty and ensure that volunteers and interns did not remain at court beyond their authorised periods.

She also cautioned the officers against individuals who might misuse their names to solicit money.

On judicial independence, the Chief Registrar urged Judicial Officers not to be intimidated by criticism on social media but to remain guided by their judicial oath and the law. Any interference that threatened judicial independence, she said, should be promptly reported.

In emphasising the importance of time management, the Chief Registrar called on Chief Magistrates to internalise the Constitution, relevant laws and practice directions. She reminded them that the Chief Justice attached particular importance to time management and urged them to arrive five to ten minutes early for meetings and return promptly to their stations after official engagements.

She cited Micah 6:8:

“Do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Also present were HW Edoku John Paul, Registrar Planning and Development;

HW Justine Atukwasa, Registrar for Alternative Dispute Resolution; HW Jude Okumu Muwone, representing the Registrar, Magistrates Affairs; HW Patricia Amoko, Deputy Registrar and Private Legal Secretary to the Chief Registrar; and HW Dorothy Lwanga, Deputy Registrar in the Inspectorate of Courts.

The meeting, moderated by HW Kosia Kasibayo, Deputy Registrar attached to the Chief Registrar’s Chambers, ended with a birthday cake-cutting ceremony in honour of HW Patricia Amoko.